I miss it sometimes, only noticing His grin in the rear view mirror as a scene fades from the present to the past, overhearing a quiet chuckle at the end of a day…But this week, for a change, I discerned the funny side smack dab in the middle of it. A persistent theme of gratitude has been emerging in my blog over the past number months, maybe even years…Thursdays are for thankfulness first began back in September of 2011, and I've felt God's nudge more than once that I am slow, so slow in grasping the significance of this truth. Gratitude is at the core of so much of what I've been learning in recent years.

"Gratitude precedes the blessing…." -Ann Voscamp In addition, for the past three months (three months?!) I've been on a little kick about "what's to love about winter" in an effort to counteract all the negativity that creeps into the atmosphere as we all wait for spring. I was feeling that I'd "weathered" the winter pretty well, keeping my murmuring to a minimum. (Going "public" with bold statements about what's to love about winter has kept me accountable in ways I hadn't counted on!!) So, according to the calendar, the Vernal Equinox arrived, March 20, and it was time to move forward.

I tried to ignore the lingering chill, but it was impossible not to notice. The average temperature at 7 am on the days following calendar spring was a nippy 28.85 degrees, rising at noon to a balmy average of 36; some days were calm, but most were blustery and frigid with some hefty wind gusts. I started to wonder if this would indeed be the year without spring, just as 1816 is now characterized as the year without a summer.

And then Tuesday arrived, March 25, and it was my birthday. My husband was hoping for measurable snow so he could stomp out a birthday greeting in the yard (Last year, it looked like this…)

As I poured my coffee, I noticed the temperatures had dropped into the teens; spring was nowhere to be seen, or so it seemed to my shivering self. I might have felt a little grumbly. I know I was cold.

And then, unmistakably, snowflakes drifted past the window. Now and again, all day long, I saw them. Snow didn't accumulate, and there were pauses throughout the day, but it was a day characterized by multiple episodes of floating flurries. Sometimes they swirled gently on the lightest breeze; occasionally, they whipped wildly around the corners. They just kept coming and abruptly I realized how beautiful they all were. Unexpectedly, I laughed, recognizing them for what they were, a million sparkling birthday gifts from God. Yep, snowa lovely gift, even on March 25. For certainly:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down (DOWN!) from the Father. James 1:17 NIVSo,I made my various stops throughout the day with a grin on my face, accepting again what I know to be true:

God makes all things beautiful in its time Ecclesiastes 3:11...

and apparently this is still the time, His time, for snow.

There was no message inscribed in the lawn this year; instead, the reminder was written on my heart, "Happy birthday" to me, from God. And so today I declare again,

Thursdays are for thankfulness!

Millions of dancingsnowflakes tell me once more ofGod's presence and love.

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I'm finding my way beyond the maze of the "middle" years (if I'm gonna be 100 and something someday...) ​living life as a country woman who is a writer, gardener, wife, mom, nature observer, teacher,and most of all a much loved child of God.